If you're reading the Marvel (or DC) books, and you're looking for a universe-wide continuity, then yeah, you're not going to enjoy the books, you're going to feel lost, and you probably should look for titles from a different company with no interlocking "universe." Image probably is for you.

If you're able to just read the story for what it is ... a story within a title that had some effect on the rest of the Universe, but not a story that has to happen at exactly the same time as the other titles' stories ... then you can read and enjoy Marvel (and DC) titles.

The current Avengers story is pretty interesting. And yeah, it took me a couple of issues to comprehend what was going on, because it was a dramatic leap into a story with new characters. But I found it to be very interesting.

Avengers Arena has been very interesting. It's a cheap way to kill off some fringe characters, true, but some of the characters are/were interesting in their respective titles. Others I haven't heard of, but...

A+X is a little throwback to the Marvel Two-in-One and Marvel Team-Up books. No connection to current continuity, and they've been pretty fun. Not a title to read if you're really a "EVERYTHING MUST FIT" person.

FF and Fantastic Four are, in my opinion, horrible books. Same with Iron Man. I can't defend those. Indestructible Hulk, on the other hand, has been VERY good. I've got a good kick out of it.

And Thor: God of Thunder is amazing. If you're focusing on the fact that they've got him doing a space walk when he's fighting baddies in Avengers, and you're letting that detract from the greatness of that title, well ... that's on you.

Uncanny Avengers is behind schedule, but that's a Cassaday issue. He can't draw a monthly title. But it's been very interesting, so far. Wait. Thor's in this, too. You won't like it. That puts him in three places. Nevermind.

First issue of Uncanny X-Force just came out, and while it's setting up the team, it wasn't actionless. And we get Storm's new costume (and the return of the 'hawk!), Psylocke's new costume, the return of Puck and a hot female Phantomex. All-in-all, a good debut issue.

All-New X-Men has been awesome. I love the bringing the original team to the future storyline, and I absolutely love that they've brought Jean back, but haven't had to resort to bringing back Phoenix. Again. I love Phoenix, but how many times can one character die/go bad/whatever.

X-Men Legacy, however, is horrible. Absolutely horrible.

As for books on the horizon, Uncanny X-Men, with Bachalo/Bendis and the rogue X-Men outlaw team has potential. The new X-Men book starring an all-female cast will be a hot seller, and should also have potential.

My personal problem with Image is that I have to have good art to go with the stories. And maybe it's just me, but I want to read comics and be entertained. I don't want to have to think too hard. It's one of the reasons I dislike Morrison as much as I do. I don't want to have to have a Cliffnotes Compendium next to my comic.

So. That's my little soapbox moment. I think if you can remove a story arc/title from the overall continuity (and Marvel and DC lost their continuity a LONG time ago), you'd find that the books are actually pretty decent and entertaining, for the most part. But if you can't get over that hurdle, then you won't enjoy them.

i cant really say i'm happy how this marvel now is turning out. i picked up deadpool 1 because of tony moore and was let down. i'm only sticking with SSM because I've been reading spidey since i was a little kid.

I'd have to say after the whole Marvel NOW launch, there's really only the Hickman Avengers titles that I really really enjoy, but Deadpool is fun, too - for now, until they saturate the monthlys with more and more.

All in all, I think DC was more successful with the relaunch and keeping a consistent and better continuity between their "families" of books. I think it's a good idea for the fans that dig that sort of thing and the best part is that you don't even have to buy all the tie-in books because the stories themselves are pretty self contained. But I think that the massive crossovers have left a bad taste in my mouth, especially from the last handful of Marvel's - Secret Invasion, Fear Itself, AvX... I mean, the ideas seem good, but are usually poorly executed and drawn out way too long.

But myself, personally, I like a lot of the independent titles that Dark Horse and Image put out, hell, even Valiant has taken me by surprise. Honestly, I think if you get a solid creative team together, then any book can be gold. I just think that right now Marvel is still waiting to hit their stride with the NOW initiative and it may be a long time before that happens.

I probably forgot one or two. Out of the above list the only ones I really went "Meh" over were Iron-Man (never was an IM reader) and Superior Spidy (haven't followed Spidy in years). Maybe I'm just easy to please.

Uncanny Avengers - I've never cared about or bought into the Red Skull. And I've never liked Cassaday's art (and this series is actually worse than usual). So, the first arc was a complete fail for me. I'm giving the second a try since there is a focus on Apocolypse heritage and Acuna is doing the art. If it doesn't work, this is dropped.

Wolverine & the X-Men - The circus story arc was atrocious. We'll see if it gets better now. Not likely to drop since it's a core X-book.

All-New X-Men - The first issue was awful (bad dialogue, rehash of everything that's ever come before). That said, the rest has been outstanding.

Captain America - I'm not sure if I really care about what's going on here. JRjr's art is keeping me on this more than the story.

Deadpool - I get a handful of genuine chuckles every issue, so I'm good with this title.

Indestructible Hulk - I thought this would be a lot better. It's mostly just boring. Then again, I haven't read a good Hulk book since Planet Hulk. Giving it one more arc and then probably dropping.

X-Men: Legacy - I lot of people I know dropped this quickly. That's too bad because with #5 & 6, the story really came together nicely and I look forward to seeing where it goes.

Avengers Arena - Read the first issue and hated the idea of the book. Had the next four on pre-order and never opened them. Sorry, I'm not reading a series where the premise is just kids killing kids.

Cable & X-Force - This book is admittedly not very good. But it's Cable's title and I love Cable, so I'm stuck with it.

Superior Spider-Man - I was late to the Slott Spidey party (jumped on with Spider Island), but loved the run up to and including #700. Other writers have done Superior Spider-Man better already (Avenging & DD). The main title is not working for me.

Uncanny X-Force - The first issue was mind bendingly weird and great. Picked up right where Remender's series left off and looks to be a fun ride.

Uncanny X-Men - Miserable first two issues in the same way All-New #1 was awful. Hopefully, we can now move on to some good stuff as the companion series to All-New. Hopefully.

Fantastic Four & FF - Haven't personally read a page because I do not like Fraction's writing, but everything I've read online says they are just awful.

Iron Man - Like FFs, I haven't read it because I do not like Kieron Gillen's writing, but it's been pretty much crucified online.

Avengers & New Avengers - Haven't read it but heard very good things. Not enough to get me past my dislike of Hickman (his SHIELD and FFs were pompous and tiresome to me) and indifference to Avengers.

Only just dipped into the Marvel Now books this weekend, and I'm lukewarm at best. The concept of All-New X-Men is intriguing for someone like me who hates the proliferation and preponderance of mutants in the Marvel Universe, and prefers the finite numbers of the original team (or the 2nd team before Wolverine became so prominent). This needs investigating, but I've just bought 1-4 of Uncanny Avengers.

My major beef with Marvel in general is that every other cover that seems to come out nowadays is a homage cover to the halcyon days of the House of Ideas. Where are the modern classics going to come from?

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